Crab Lake and Cummings Lake

Overview

The Crab Lake and Cummings Lake route is a Boundary Waters out-and-back trip that begins and ends at EP 4 (Crab Lake & Cummings Lake), with the put-in reached by paddling out from Burntside Lake. From the entry, the route makes a long carry into Crab Lake, then continues through Little Crab Lake and Korb Lake to reach Cummings Lake before retracing the same path back to the entry point.

This route is defined by its opening and closing portage, a long carry between Burntside Lake and Crab Lake that sets it apart from many other entry points and keeps this corner of the wilderness lightly used compared to more heavily traveled corridors. Once inside, the trip settles into a tighter cluster of smaller lakes — Little Crab, Korb, and Cummings — connected by shorter portages that make for easier travel once the initial carry is behind the group. The lakes along this route offer opportunities for smallmouth bass fishing, along with walleye, northern pike, and largemouth bass in the surrounding water.

This route suits paddlers comfortable with one demanding portage at each end of the trip in exchange for the tight cluster of lakes it opens up once inside. The grouping of lakes around Crab, Little Crab, Korb, and Cummings makes it well suited to a basecamp-style trip built around one or two campsites rather than covering long distances each day. It's a good fit for groups prioritizing fishing and a slower pace over daily mileage.

Route Highlights

• A long opening and closing portage from Burntside Lake into Crab Lake
• A tight cluster of interior lakes — Little Crab, Korb, and Cummings
• Opportunities for smallmouth bass, walleye, pike, and largemouth bass fishing
• Quieter, less-traveled water due to the demanding access portage